Anna Grayson and The Order of Merlin
Castlewood Academy

Anna and Gwen slowly made theirway to the entrance to the long gangway where a shipmate, dressed in white, waschecking names on a list.

“So… all of this magic onlystarted happening within the last week?” asked Gwen, who was still listening toAnna’s story about unexpectedly becoming a witch. “Weird. That’s so strange,and the healers don’t know why this has happened to you?”

“Nope. Nobody reallyunderstands any of this. I wish I understood it. Damon even seems to think I mightturn back into a Muggle again,” Anna said, frowning.

“Pwau!” Gwen spat.“Since when has Damon been right about anything? But… this ghost, or whateverit is you told me about; do you think it’ll visit you at Castlewood? Do youthink it’ll follow you here?”

Anna sighed. She had told Gwenalmost everything she had experienced while at home. Everything, that is, apartfrom the Lethifold. Perhaps it was out of fear that she didn’t mention thecreature to her friend. Fear of what Gwen might think about her. Or maybe itwas the fear that came with trying to explain why she decided to bring thecreature with her to the school.

“I really don’t know if thething will show up again or not,” Anna said in reply to Gwen’s question, and tothe question in her own mind as well. “I’m kind of hoping it’ll just lose me inthe crowd.”

“Name please!”

“Gwendolyn Reese,” Gwen toldthe man with the clipboard in his hand.

“Reese… Reese… Reese,” the manmumbled, running his finger down his list of names. “Here it is — Artisan Union— third-year, right! Welcome aboard, miss,” he said with a tip of his cap.

“Name?” barked the man, lookingat Anna this time.

“Anna Grayson, of California,” Annareplied. She caught herself holding her breath, as if believing she might stillbe sent home. The man looked down his list and found Anna’s name. He frowned.

“It says here… you’re afirst-year, no assigned union hall as of yet. Is that right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.First-year student at Castlewood,” Anna replied, nervously.

“You… look a little old for afirst-year,” the sailor said, looking suspiciously at her.

“Oh… thank you,” Anna replied,hoping not to have to explain. The sailor frowned at Anna again, and thenlooked down at his list. Flipping the parchment over to the front, he straightened.

“Right… okay, then. Head up theramp and then turn right. All the first-year students are meeting at the sternof the ship. You’ll receive further instructions there. Good day, miss, andwelcome aboard.” He tipped his hat and motioned her up the ramp. Anna smiled asshe bounced up the wooden gangway toward Gwen waiting for her at the top.

“Geeze-Louise! Why doeseverything have to be so complicated with you, girlfriend?” Gwen said with achuckle. “I mean…you can’t even get on the ship without the third degree?”

Anna hopped down onto the deck.“Hey — can I help it if the guy wanted your phone number?”

Gwen frowned, and then lookeddown the gangway at the back of the man with the clipboard. “Hmm… always liked a man in uniform,” shesaid, looking back at Anna and bouncing her eyebrows.

Anna gave her friend a shove.“You’re unbelievable!” she said, with a snort.

“Come on,” Gwen giggled. “I’llwalk you back. We’d better put our robes on.”

As the girls made their way tothe rear of the ship, Anna could see some of the students already separatingthemselves into their Dynasty groups. Her brother Eric, who was now wearing hisServers’ Union colors, was speaking to another small group of seventh-yearstudents displayed impressively in royal blue and black robes. Eric winked atAnna as she walked by.

“So… have any idea what dynastyyou might land in?” asked Gwen, who was shoving an arm into her black andturquoise robes.

“No idea. How will we replaceout?”

“Oh… I guess I figured, with somany brothers and sisters, somebody would have explained it to you. Well… theymake you walk through this huge mirror, see, and while you’re inside themirror, these voices start talking to you. They’ll ask you a bunch of sillyquestions about your life and ambitions…” Gwen said, rolling her eyes boringly;she stopped. She could plainly see Anna struggling to understand. “Oh-well,we’ll get to the school soon enough, and then you’ll see for yourself. It’ssimple, really, easier than putting on a pair of shoes. Here we are.” The twogirls arrived at the back of the ship.

“Listen, I’ll check on youafter we’re underway. I have to send an owl to my parents telling them I madeit to the ship in one piece. You know how they worry,” Gwen said, rolling hereyes again.

Anna smiled; she did remember.Mr. and Mrs. Reese were extremely nice people, but definitely worried in excessabout their only child. Remembering Gwen’s family brought a warm and familiarfeeling to her heart.

“Besides…” Gwen continuedexcitedly, “I can’t wait to tell them you’re here. They’re gonna freak!”

As Gwen started to walk away,Anna called out to her. “Gwen!” Her friend turned to look back. “It’s reallygreat seeing you again,” Anna said, smiling broadly.

Gwen smiled back andnodded. “See you in a bit, Annie G!”

A few minutes later, the ship’screw was dashing about the deck as the gangway was hoisted away, and the ropesfrom the dock were released and cast out. A single officer was stiffly barkingorders at the crew.

“Run up the mizzen and belaythe halliard. Let’s see some life, there! For God’s sake, Smith, button yourshirt. There are ladies about.”

“Aye, sir!”

“Is the end of that mizzensheet made fast below?

“Hoist the mainsail and thefore. Put your weight on that halliard gentlemen; it’ll bear it.

“And get that sail snug up overthere! I won’t see it stand out like a board when it gets the wind.

“Belay!”

“Mind your post, there!” yelledanother officer to one of his sailors, who was mindlessly talking to a prettysixth-year girl.

Soon, the large sails startedto fill with air, and Anna could hear the ship begin to creak and groan loudlyas it moved forward. Slowly at first, the ship soon cleared the docks, andbegan to gather speed.

“Cast off the mizzen sheet andthe driver; let the bow fall off a little; there you are.

“Watch her fill gentlemen. Trimthe mainsail and the fore; belay the sheet.”

“Aye, Mister Wiggins!”

“Trim the mizzen to the angleand belay.

“Get on deck to windward! Bearaway, there.

“Let her have more sheet, Mr.Dotter; yes, mizzen and driver too; run down the wind a bit.”

“Here — what are you doing ondeck, there? Never mind the tiller; it won't run away. Well, get that mizzenover first… that’ll do.”

“Aye!”

“Haul in on the sheet. Now lookout for the mainsail; give me a touch to the tiller.

“You! Haul in that main sheet!Trim in the spanker sheet and bring the wind on the beam again, mister.

“Luff her up a little and trimin number two flat. That will do; no closer, mind the shake along the luff.Keep her there; luff just full, a little more, a little more; no more.”

As soon as the ship cleared theharbor entrance, a gust of wind seemed to come out of nowhere to propel thevessel along, tilting the Allegheny Pride slightly to its side. They werefinally underway, and, within minutes, the rest of the ship’s sails wereunfurled as the small island dropped down into the horizon and then completelyout of site. As Anna looked out over the beautiful ocean around her, she couldtell the ship was nowhere near her home or the California coastline. The weather seemedimmeasurably sultry, and the smell in the air was entirely unfamiliar to her.

“First-years, gather round overhere. Over here, please,” came a voice from behind her. A tall strapping manwas standing on a stepped platform in a white uniform and gold braided hat.

“That’s right, gather round ushere.

“My name is Commander Wiggins.I am the executive officer on this ship, under the command of Captain ArchibaldNaughtington. Welcome aboard the WWS Allegheny Pride. I have been asked to giveyou a brief summary of your activities while aboard ship today, and what youcan expect upon our arrival tonight in Spellsburg.

“We will be traveling en routeto Pennsylvaniafor the next two hours. While under sail, you will be allowed the run of theship, with the only exceptions being that of the helm,” he pointed to theship’s deck above them, “and the Captain’s quarters below. There are plenty ofstaterooms on the lower decks if you and other members of your party would likesome privacy.

“When walking on the upperdecks, we would ask that you travel in pairs. That way, if we lose one of youoverboard, you can depend on somebody to sound the alarm. From this pointforward, all students will be allowed to practice magic at the discretion oftheir abilities.” There was a thunderous cheer from the crowd as the sparksfrom several wands suddenly shot into the air.

“Mind the sails with yoursparks, if you please, but there will be no flying!” The cheering wasimmediately replaced with a loud grumble. “Now, now… you can thank your fellowclassmates from last year for that new rule. Seems some of them needed to tryout their new doors, and got caught in a sudden gale below the horizon. It tookmost of the day to round them up out of the drink. Needless to say, the Majorof Spellsburg and the Chancellor of Castlewood were not happy,” complained theofficer, bending down toward them with an ugly scowl. He stood straight again.

“During the remainder of thistrip, you first-years will have two jobs to do. First — look out for the safetyof the other students around you, and second, prepare yourself for the joining.”

“The what?” asked a pink-facedboy with blonde hair standing next to Anna.

“Oh… sorry,” continued Wiggins.“For you newbies out there, the joining is the traditional ceremony that willunite you to one of the Castlewood Unions,” explained the officer. “To ensurethe best match to the proper union, you must take this time to focus on yourfuture ambitions, and the things that interest you.”

“Tommy Moore has an interest inalmost every girl on this ship,” hollered a boy standing in the back. The boynext to him turned red in the face and gave his friend a shove. The rest of thestudents started to laugh.

Commander Wiggins smiled. “Well… I believe most of the unions cansatisfy your needs on that front,” replied the officer with a grin. “But, justto be safe, perhaps we should ask the women onboard to keep a safe distancefrom our Mr. Moore over there.” Everybody laughed again.

“But seriously, now; I cannotemphasize enough the importance of you taking the time to deliberate on yourfuture plans. The joining is a critical event that will place you on apath that could very well affect the rest of your lives. You must take the timeduring this trip to think about your aspirations. All right?” There was muchmurmuring in the crowd. “Right then. Any questions?” Wiggins looked around atthe sea of faces below him. “Good… enjoy the rest of the trip… that is all.”And with a final wave, he stepped down.

Some time later, Anna wasstanding against the thick wooden railing, overlooking the infinite ocean infront of her. The view was as vast as the choices for her future. What did shewant to be? How in the world was she supposed to know? It seemed so unfair toask her to decide something as important as this right now. Just a few days agoAnna was in a Muggle school, trying to replace her way to her new classes, and nowshe was expected to plan out the rest of her life? She didn’t have a clue whatshe wanted to be or do.

“Hey — Super G,” came Gwen’svoice behind her. Anna glanced around and immediately noticed how establishedGwen looked in the blue-green embroidery on her robes. She looked down at thethree hash marks on Gwen’s sleeve and then at the single black stripe on herown arm.

“What’s the matter, friend?”Gwen asked, frowning. “It’s a big ship, but not big enough to get that lost.What are you thinking about?”

Anna smiled, and then turned tolean back against the railing. “Gwen… do you really enjoy playing the piano?”She hadn’t heard Gwen playing her music in a while, but Anna knew her friendwas very talented.

“Sure — it’s great. Why do youask?”

“I mean… do you really like it?Do you think about it all the time? Is it in your blood? Or… did your parents…”

“No. I honestly… really do loveit. Oh, I know I used to complain a lot about it when I didn’t want topractice, or when my dad insisted on all those recitals, but when I got toCastlewood and joined the Artisan’s Union, they helped me to appreciate what Iwas trying to do. They made me see that it’s more than just placing your handson the keys and learning the notes. It’s something that comes from your soul. Inever knew my music would mean so much to me, and now I can’t imagine livingwithout it.” Anna felt something in her stomach squirm.

“You’re lucky. At least youknew what you wanted when you got to the school. I don’t have a clue. They wantme to think about my future in preparation for the joining,” Anna said,pointing at the raised platform from where Wiggins had made his speech. “Idon’t know what I want.”

“Oh stop. You think I knew Iwanted to continue playing my music when I arrived? That’s rich! I can honestly tell you I wasseverely disappointed when I was joined to the Artisans.”

“What?”

“It’s true. I really rebelled.I thought my parents must have somehow contacted the school to ensure Icontinued my musical training. I actually felt betrayed by the whole process. Iwish you had been there in those days, Anna. I could have really used afriend.”

There was a silent pausebetween the two of them before Gwen spoke again. “Anna… I’m really sorry aboutnot writing to you. I knew I should have, and I really did miss you, but… Ijust didn’t know what to say. You were so disappointed at being left behind,and having to go to that Muggle School. What was I suppose to say? DearAnna, Castlewood is great — wish you were here?”

Anna smiled. “I understand. Infact, in the beginning, I’m glad you didn’t write. I was pretty upset at thewhole world in those days. I probably wouldn’t have read your letters anyway.”

“Still… I should have…”

“Forget it; I mean it,” Annasaid, placing her hand on Gwen’s cheek. “I’m just glad we’re together now, andI’m really grateful you’re still my friend.” Gwen smiled.

“Thar she blows!” came abellowing voice high above them. Anna looked up to see a man, perched atop thehighest mast on the ship, pointing out to sea.

“Starboard the helm tendegrees, mister!” another voice boomed from behind them. Once again, there wasa lot of yelling from the scrambling sailors who were working the many ropesand pulleys around them. The great ship began to creak and groan loudly againas it turned slightly to the left.

“Come on… We’re getting close,”said Gwen, pulling Anna by the arm toward the front of the ship. They followed the gathering crowd of studentspressed against the railings, looking out over the water and pointing towardthe far-off horizon.

“Stand right here,” Gwen saidbreathlessly. “Do you see it?” Anna looked out, and to her great surprise, shecould see what looked like an immense, greenish storm, growing larger by thesecond. Great bolts of lightning could be seen flashing within its darkeningmass.

“Be ready, Mister Wiggins!Another five degrees starboard… steady on my mark,” shouted the Captain, as hewatched the raging storm brewing ever bigger through his telescope.

“Aye, sir” replied the firstofficer, and the ship turned again toward the storm.

“We’re not actually going tosail into that, are we?” yelled Anna, over the now howling wind.

“Sure. Don’t worry, we’ll befine,” Gwen hollered back.

“Mister Wiggins? Be ready,Wiggins…”

“Ready… aye, sir!”

“Steady… now, Mister Wiggins —now!”

“Helm! Hard down! Put the tiller to leeward,hard-a-lee now!”

As the ship approached theugly, dark storm, the entire horizon seemed to disappear, as if swallowed wholeby the billowing beast before them. The ship was rising high into the air anddropping violently down into the waves as the sea around them crashed into theirsides. Anna closed her eyes and grasped the railing, expecting a sudden blastof wind to tip them over. She felt the cold, wet air from the storm hit herfull in the face, and then everything suddenly went quiet.

“BOO!”

“Aaaahhh!” Anna yelped.Somebody behind her had grabbed her around the waist. It was Eric.

“Ha-ha,” sorry about that, sis,but I couldn’t resist.”

“Eric! You almost gave me aheart attack!” Anna yelled, smacking her brother in the chest. He smiled.

“Welcome to Neptune’sVeil,” Eric said, motioning to space around them. Anna looked out in wonder tosee dark green clouds surrounding them like a thick, billowing blanket of fog.Bright flashes of yellow-green and blue lightning shot through the mist in thefar-off distance. There was no wind; the great sails were still and limp abovethem. Even the water seemed to have disappeared. Anna looked down over theside, and could see the same blue-green flashes of lightning miles below them.

“Where are we?” asked Anna.

“Now that’s a very goodquestion, and one without a good answer, I’m afraid,” Eric quipped. “Theclosest thing I’ve been able to figure is some kind of porthole, but… whoknows. It’s a secret, much like the actual location of Castlewood itself.”

“Can the Muggles see this?”

“Oh sure, but the storm is onlyconjured for this trip. I’ve heard tales some Muggles have accidentally sailedinto it in the past, but you really have to know what you’re doing and have anexperienced captain to guide you through it. Otherwise, you might replace yourselfa thousand miles off course from where you started.” Anna looked up at thecaptain who was pointing the way through the fog with a wand in hisoutstretched hand, while the sailor next to him tipped the ship’s wheel at hisinstruction.

“They’ve placed a disillusionmentcharm on the entire ship, of course, so the Muggles can’t see us.”

“Wow,” Anna whispered. “This isamazing.” Eric winked at Gwen.

“Hey Anna, watch this,” saidGwen, who proceeded to remove one of her shoes. Raising the shoe over her head,she threw it hard over the railing and out into the green mist.

“What are you doing? You’regonna need that, you know!” Anna said, laughing. Gwen quickly spun aroundagainst the rail. Glancing about, she seemed to be scanning the deck of theship.

Anna grinned. “What are youlooking for…?”

“Heads up!” Gwen yelled, as thesame shoe dropped out of the clouds high above them and hit the deck with aloud thump.

“What the…?” Anna faded,looking perplexed. Gwen raced across the deck and picked up her shoe. She slidit back onto her foot before turning to face Anna again.

“Cool, huh? I heard there was afifth-year boy twenty years ago who jumped overboard on a dare. The idiot brokehis leg when he hit the deck, of course.”

Suddenly, a cool breeze beganto blow around them and Eric looked up. He could see the sails beginning tofill again.

“Hold on… here it comes,” hesaid, placing a finger to his lips.

“LAND HO!!!” shouted the man atthe top of the mast.

The ship suddenly dropped downand, with a mighty slap, the keel splashed down upon the water once again. Thestudents erupted into cheering applause as the dark clouds around them startedto clear. A tree-lined shore slowly came into view on either side of the ship.They were traveling on what looked like a river in the middle of a denseforest. The late sun burned away the remaining fog as the ship loosened itssails to slow.

“This is weird,” Anna said inamazement. “First, we’re in the middle of the ocean and now we’re here?” Shelooked at Eric. “Where are we?”

Her brother pointed toward thehigh mountains surrounding them. “Those are the Allegheny Mountains; we’re in Pennsylvania,Anna.”

As the ship slowed around afinal turn, the work of the crew became more frantic. Within minutes, they wereapproaching a massive old dock with dozens of waiting sailors, holding thickropes. The great ship slid expertly into place and groaned loudly as it bumpedand scraped its dock stops. Ropes were thrown back and forth between thesailors on the ship and those on the dock, and were quickly tied down. Thegangway was raised high into the air once again and fell neatly into place. Therailing doors were opened and, one by one, the students started heading downthe ramp. Anna was still looking around them in astonished wonder.

“I’ve never seen so many treesin all my life!” she said, marveling at the thick forest and twisted old growthbetween them.

“Yes, it’s quite a bitdifferent from where we come from, Anna. The air can get very humid in thesummer and the trees you see stretch for hundreds of miles across New York and New England in the north, and down into Maryland and Virginiain the south. Just wait until you see the leaves change in the fall,” Eric saidknowledgeably. Anna couldn’t seem to take it all in at once. Like the rest ofthe first-year students, she was wide eyed with awe.

The studentsfollowed each other in a long line across the docks and into a wooden building,where they climbed a series of steps toward several cable cars waiting for themat the top. Anna, Gwen, and Eric piled into an open car, along with a number ofother first-year students. With a sharp lurch, the car started to ascend upwardalong its cable toward the mountains high above them.

As the carcleared the tops of the trees, Anna gasped at the sight below them. As Eric hadsaid, there were hundreds of square miles of forested hills and mountains allaround them for as far as she could see. She watched the Allegheny Pridedropping away, and spotted the miles of twisting river leading away from thedock on the other side.

Theycontinued traveling higher in the tram, and finally flattened off as theyreached the summit of the first mountain. Crossing onto the other side, Annacould see dozens of earthen peaks far below them.

“It’s so beautiful. I’ve neverseen anything like it before,” Anna said, and for the first time in her lifeshe suddenly realized there might be other places in the world as beautiful asher far off home.

They rose again into thickwhite clouds, which blocked her view of everything beneath them. Withinminutes, she could feel them leveling off once more and then begin to angledown. All of the students were straining to see through the clouds as theycontinued to descend.

“Look!” hollered a boy in thefront. They all peered out the window again and could see the clouds thinning.The trees began to appear through the fog and what looked like a flat plateausuddenly fell into view.

“There it is! I can see it now.Over there, look — look! It’s Castlewood!” screamed a girl to their left.Everybody in the car dashed over to see where she was pointing. Looming out ofthe clouds below them, and into the late afternoon sun, stood the mostincredible sight Anna had ever seen in her life. Finally, it was there.

“Castlewood!” Anna whispered.“It’s… it’s….”

“It’s unbelievable!” saidanother girl behind her. Anna looked at her brother standing next to her; shecould see he was watching her every reaction.

“Exactly,” she said, softly.

The castle was huge, easilydwarfing everything else that might be standing on the plateau. More than acastle, Anna was amazed at the size and the area in which its foundationspread. Considering what she envisioned, the structure should have been calleda complex rather than a building. Its stone walls rose high into the air andcontained many spiral towers, and cobbled walkways joining them. The stone ofthe castle and its surrounding buildings took on a pinkish glow in the lateevening sun, and the many angled roofs were covered in black slate. The castle’sinner and outer baileys where filled with tall structures, classrooms andassembly halls, no doubt, which contained hundreds of brightly lit mullionwidows. The entire castle was set upon a hill, overlooking the rest of theplateau surrounding it.

As the tram dropped lower, theclouds around them eventually gave way and more of the grounds around thecastle came into view.

“Wow, look at that!” said a boypointing down on the other side of the car. Everybody moved as one to theopposite window to see more structures coming into view below them. Severalbuildings appeared within the castle’s shadow, with streets and walkwaysconnecting them. And then, suddenly, there they were, the five great Unionwalls. Encircling the castle, they were arranged in the shape of a pentagon,with round towers protruding high into the air at the corners where theyjoined. The city rose upward on sloping hills between the Union walls and thehuge castle set in its center.

“Is that Spellsburg?” askedAnna, pointing at the small buildings and streets dotting on the hills belowthe castle. She noticed all of the other first-years in the car were lookingeagerly toward Eric for an answer.

“That’s right,” Eric replied.“Actually… you could say everything below us sitting on top of this plateau isSpellsburg. The castle and Union walls thatform the Academy reside within the city. “Those large stadiums outside thewalls are the Quidditch, Slalom, and Vollucross fields.”

Anna looked in wonder at thehuge stadiums and their bleachers rising around the beautiful green andwell-manicured fields within their middle. One of the stadiums was u-shaped,with the open end offering a clear view of the forest to the north.

As the cable cars bumped andrattled along, Anna noticed their route would take them down over one of theUnion walls and directly into the city. As they crossed over, they could seethe battlements and walk ways running its entire length.

“That’s the Labor Union Hall,”yelled another boy, pointing at the emerald green flags waving in the briskwind atop some of the merlons. “My dad was in that Union!”he said with pride. Anna smiled and looked up at Eric, who was nodding at theboy.

Thecars continued to drop into Spellsburg, and finally entered another woodenbuilding, much like its twin down on the docks. With a loud ker-chunk,the car came to an abrupt stop and the doors slid open. The students made theirway down another long series of groaning steps, leading to the exit below.There they found a large gathering space where the students mingled in acircle, waiting for the rest of the tramcars to arrive.

“Anna… come with me,” calledEric, grabbing her by the hand. Gwen was laughing as she followed along. “Standhere — next to these doors. This is where you’re gonna want to be when we enterthe city streets.”

Anna looked at Eric and Gwensuspiciously and then frowned. “What’s going on? What are you two up to now?”she said, distrustfully.

Then, all at once, the doorsbehind her flew open. She turned, and was immediately pushed forward into thelight by the crowd of students behind her. She stepped out onto a massive stoneporch overlooking the street below. An immense crowd began cheering andclapping as the students stepped outside. Anna smiled. It seemed the whole townof Spellsburghad come to welcome them back to school.

A band in the back began toplay, and the sparks from several wands shot into the sky. A very fat man, witha gray goatee and a bright yellow cloak, waded forward from the railingoverlooking the crowd. He too was clapping madly. Eric pushed Anna in the backtoward the fat man, who instantly grabbed her around the shoulder and walkedher over to the edge of the railing. Anna didn’t exactly like being heavedaround by this strange man, and she glanced back to give Eric a look of dismayat being placed into his clutches.

“Be nice, Anna,” Ericwhispered. “He’s the Mayor of Spellsburg.” Anna quickly looked in shock at theman holding her captive, as Eric and Gwen started chuckling behind her. TheMayor raised his hand to quiet the crowd.

“Welcome! Welcome, one and all,back to Spellsburg. As the Mayor of this wonderful Wizarding city, it is myprivilege and immense pleasure to tell our returning students how wonderful itis to see them among us once again. It is an honor to have you back in ourmidst.” The large crowd cheered loudly and started clapping all over again.Anna was happy about the excitement, but very embarrassed at being singled outand placed in the front. As the crowd continued to clap joyously, the Mayorleaned in to whisper into Anna’s ear.

“What is your name, my dear,and where are you from?”

“Anna Grayson, sir,” repliedAnna fretfully.

“Are you a first-year?”

“Yes, sir, from California.” The Mayorlooked somewhat surprised, and then glanced around to replace Eric standing behindthem. The man tilted his head toward Anna to confirm the family connection andEric nodded. The Mayor smiled and then cleared his throat before raising hishand to silence the crowd.

“This here… is Miss AnnaGrayson of California,and she’s obviously a very long way from home.” The Mayor overacted anexaggerated chuckle. “I guess it would be natural for somebody like Anna tofeel… a little out of place. After all… she’s coming into a new school, withnew students and teachers, and now… a new town. But the citizens of Spellsburgwould like to tell Anna, and the rest of our first-year students arrivingtoday, that you are most welcome here. We’re excited to see you, and we arelooking forward to meeting each and every one of you personally. We are yourcommunity now, and thus, your new family.

“For the next ten months, youwill call our great city your place of residence. But, speaking for the goodpeople here before you today, we hope you will eventually call Spellsburg yourhome. Welcome home — one and all!” And with these words, the crowd explodedinto thunderous cheers, and the band began to play once again. Anna smiledpolitely, even as the Mayor yanked her arm above her head along with his own.She could hear Eric and Gwen laughing madly behind her. She turned to glareback at them.

“Remind me to kill you twolater,” she said, through her clinched, smiling teeth. The Mayor eventually letAnna go, and then escorted the new students down the stone steps and into thestreets below.

“Onward to Castlewood!” hebellowed loudly, as he led them through the cobblestone streets and up thewinding hills toward the castle. Many of the shopkeepers lining the streetsreached out to shake the student’s hands as they passed by.

“Welcome to Spellsburg, mydear,” said a kindly old lady in a soft blue apron, standing in front of one ofthe stores.

“Thank you,” Anna replied,allowing herself to slowly fall back so as to inspect the small shops andbusinesses along their route. It all seemed so incredible. There was The WompumEmporium, makers of fine robes and clothing, Mister Banshee’s Parchment andStationary, Turner and Steele Books, Ms. Rigger’s Sporting Goods and Supplies,and several quaint looking restaurants.

“So… you done speechifying tothe masses, Annie-G?” laughed Gwen, sliding her arm around Anna’s waist.

“Ha-ha-ha, you two are a riot.Where’s that brother of mine? I owe him a right hook to the jaw.”

Gwen snorted. “He’s gone ahead,said he’d meet you inside the castle.”

Humph! “Coward!” Annasnorted. Then, looking down the street in front of them, she said, “Look at allof this. I had no idea there was so much here.”

“Oh, this is nothing. There aretwo more streets running parallel to this one just a block over. They follow theUnion Halls all the way around the castle. They weren’t kidding when theycalled this place a city. It’s absolutely huge; one of the biggest Wizardingcities in the world.”

The girls made their waythrough streets with odd names like Wizards Way and Dragon Drive, and Gwen took the time to show Anna some ofher favorite places to shop. Eventually, they found their way to the castleentrance, where the rest of the students had gathered to wait for the frontdoors to open. The Mayor, now carrying an ornate walking staff, crossed overthe drawbridge lying flat across a moat surrounding the castle. As he reachedthe immense double doors, he lifted his staff and gave the wood three heavyraps. With a loud rumble, the massive doors began to swing open, revealinganother arched, iron gate inside. Two scarlet-cloaked guards stood at attentionwithin.

“Who goes there?” yelled one ofthe guards, sounding somewhat rehearsed.

“It is I, Ulric Prower, Mayorof the fine city of Spellsburg.”

“What is your business here,sir?”

“I have come to deliver thisyear’s students into the hands of the Chancellor of this wizarding school. Doesthe Chancellor accept the responsibility of these young souls left in my care?”

“He does indeed, sir. On behalfof the Chancellor, the guards of Castlewood thank you for your watchful care.”

And with that, the massivechains attaching the gate to its counterweight went taut and began to rattle asthey lifted the spiked portcullis high into the air, removing the last barrierinto the castle. The crowd of students standing on the drawbridge began tocheer loudly.

“Whelp… you’ll be going in withthe other first-years to orientation,” Gwen said to Anna. “I’ll see you againat the joining tonight, all right?”

“Okay… and thanks for thetour.” Gwen smiled and turned to follow the other students through the irongate.

As the rest of the students filedpassed the gatehouse, a lone figure stood watching from a window high abovethem. An old wizard, with shockingly white hair and very dark glasses, gazedout as the crowd made their way through the doors and into the castle grounds.Finally, he noticed one student standing alone on the drawbridge. He could seethe young girl, with flaming red hair, looking skyward toward the highest partsof the castle above her. The old wizard curled a small smile.

Anna stood there on thedrawbridge watching the other students walk through the gate. She staredstraight up at the castle’s gigantic edifice and smiled. She made it; she wasfinally here. Anna dropped to her knees and, with a single, final prayer, sheasked God to give her the strength she needed to keep her father’s trust andbring honor to her family.

As the old wizard watched, aknock was heard at his door.

“Come in.”

“Chancellor Thordarson… thestudents have arrived, sir,” said a young man wrapped in a red cloak, nowstanding inside the door. The wizard turned and smiled.

“Ah, yes… young minds full ofpotential have come to us for molding. The responsibility boggles the mind,don’t you think?”

“Yes, sir,” said the man with aguarded smile. There was a long pause as the wizard began collecting a fewitems from his desk.

“Every year we see more andmore of them come though our doors,” the guard said, “but very few ever leavetheir mark. Do you believe such a person exists in this new batch, Professor?”

The Chancellor looked outsideagain, and watched the red headed girl rise from her knees and walk slowlythrough the front gate. He smiled again as he turned.

“You know… I believe so. Infact, I expect this school will never be the same after this year.” The oldwizard walked out of his office, leaving the young man standing alone andlooking very surprised.